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Last weekend I, and a few of my Muslim Sisters, had the tremendous opportunity to attend a 'Breakthrough Breakfast' presented by Girlfriends Pray. Girlfriends Pray is a Christian ministry founded by Dr. Dee C. Marshall with the goal of bringing women closer to God through prayer.

I could tell that some of my associates were surprised that we, Sisters in the Nation of Islam, would promote and attend a Christian function of this kind. So I will take this moment to inject understanding in the way of this explanation:

We will not be divided.

Now more than ever, there is a great need for unity at all levels within our community. Amongst our greatest concerns are economic disenfranchisement, educational attainment, employment opportunities and justice. The least of our concern should be our religious affiliation.

There is nothing that will keep me disconnected from my Christian Sister.

Our needs are too common and they abundantly exceed what our differences may be. It is in this spirit that I will not be divided from my Christian Sisters when called to work collectively in service.

Some have the thinking that I, being a Muslim follower of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, have no desire or interest in the needs and interests of my Christian Sister. The truth is - the needs and interests of my sister are my own. I am of the mindset that my sister and I are One.

It is our needs that unite us. It is our suffering that unites us. It is our history that unites us. It is our wins which unite us. And more than anything else, it is our God Who unites us.

The fact that I say, “Allah,” and my sister says, “Yah, God, Jah or Yahweh,” is of little significance.

My love for my Christian sister has no limits.

In fact, my practice of Islam implores me to unite with those among my people who enjoin good and forbid evil. This is my standard for discernment.

I know that it is the enemy who wishes for our division. Our separation is his victory and I will not forfeit our salvation over anything as insignificant as a religious title.

As the leaders in our community, we must be examples of working together, if we ever hope to reach the hopeless. Our youth are caught up and crippled literally and figuratively in gang wars in these streets. Unfortunately, often the gang mentality (division) has been modeled in our religious houses.

If our youth are ever to get beyond the bondage of disunity, we must be examples of unity.

As I said, Girlfriends Pray is a ministry with the goal of bringing women closer to God through prayer. It is my belief, that the better we know God, the better we know ourselves. The more we know ourselves, the more we will love ourselves. And in loving self, we are compelled to love each other.

It is really that simple.

Good is universal. If my sister practices goodness with God, and I practice goodness with Allah, we will never find conflict with each other that cannot be overcome.

Our God is One God.

Let’s focus on what we have in common. My Christian sisters’ desired outcome is the same as mine: Peace. Freedom. Justice. Salvation.

We, Muslims, often explain it this way: 2+5=7, 3+4=7 and 6+1=7. Our outcomes are the same although our journey to the outcome is different. The beautiful thing is that, for many of us, our journeys parallel each other anyway.

So let’s work together. Learn together. Grow together. And love each other.

The love I felt in that room with my Christian Sisters this past weekend is beyond what I have felt in a long time. In fact, the last time I was overwhelmed with such love is when I convened with an special assembly of my Muslim Sisters in Chicago this past March.

Unity is more powerful than an atom bomb.

This is what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us. We can and will accomplish much in the way of our unity. He also teaches that no nation will rise any higher than the condition of its woman. Therefore it is imperative that we rise up - and rise up in Unity. For it is us, Women, who ultimately will lead in the deliverance of our people. Therefore, I will continue to be neither shy nor apologetic about my love of Islam and of my love of my Christian sister.

I know there are some who fear this Unity, who are alarmed of our love and coming together. So as my sister said Saturday, “Devil…let this be your notice!”

Thanks to Dr. Dee C Marshall and the beautiful Sisters of Girlfriends Pray for hosting an amazing event of women covering one another in love, sisterhood and prayer. I already cannot wait until next year!

Psalm 133:1 ~ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

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Nurah

9/19/2017 07:53:37 am

❤️❤️❤️ Yes Tanya!!!

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michellene davis

9/21/2017 01:34:45 am

Sister you are AMAZING and I thank you for this sisterhood! I have ALWAYS felt this way. Thank you for putting poetic pen to paper to articulate this most beautiful emotion.

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Nurah

9/21/2017 01:59:32 pm

THANK YOU Michellene. Your words of support truly mean the world to me. I felt this post was necessary-to bridge and inject understanding. Time, lives and potential can be squandered when we do not work together. I'm honored to be an agent of change within our community.

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Nurah strives to enlighten, empower and engage her readers with the wealth of knowledge she has gained from her own experiences and those of others from whom she has learned.